Carroll County Observer

20/04/2024

Democratic candidates visit Carroll County ahead of the 2024 Primary in Maryland

https://carrollcountyobserver.com/2024/04/20/democratic-candidates-visit-carroll-county-ahead-of-the-2024-primary-in-maryland/

Carroll County has been a popular spot recently for Democratic candidates running in the 2024 Primary in Maryland. The Observer has seen posts from four different candidates recently. Here are the posts: David Trone (candidate for Senate in Maryland): Carroll County Democrats are fired up! Thanks to...

20/04/2024

How the commissioners used a technicality to get around the required supermajority in order to raise taxes in Carroll County

Not once have I seen or heard Commissioners or County Government say anything related 2011 levels as it relates to raising taxes and the 4 vote supermajority.

Wasn’t it Commissioner Rothstein that just preached to us about “telling the whole story”

It is hard to argue that Carroll County residents were never told the WHOLE STORY as it relates to the Supermajority requirement and taxes

Joe Vigliotti, Carroll County Commissioner, District 1
Kenny Kiler for Carroll County Commissioner -District 2
Tom Gordon Carroll County Commissioner - District 3
Michael R. Guerin, Carroll County Commissioner-District 4, Maryland, USA
Ed Rothstein Carroll County Commissioner - District 5
Carroll County Government Maryland

20/04/2024

In case you are wondering what the FY25 proposed Property Tax increase of 2 cents looks like in real dollars to home owners in Carroll County.

This is what Commissioners voted to put into the FY25 Proposed Budget (to be released next week).

20/04/2024

In case you are wondering what the FY25 proposed Recordation Tax increase from $5.00 to $6.50 looks like in real dollars to buyers and sellers of homes in Carroll County.

This is what Commissioners voted to put into the FY25 Proposed Budget (to be released next week).

19/04/2024

In FY25 Budget Work Session today: Carroll County Commissioners vote 3 to 2 increase Recordation Tax from $5.00 to $6.50 and increase Property Tax by 2 cents…they also bypassed the Supermajority requirement based on a technicality that they never told residents about when they strengthened the Supermajority back in January 2023….more information coming soon.

19/04/2024

I have had times where I REALLY disagree with this Commissioner but I will say it was nice to hear him admit that at least part of the situation the County is in with the Budget has to do with mistakes made by the previous Board as it relates to implementing Fire & EMS within the County Budget. I can respect that he acknowledges that fact.

19/04/2024

Former Carroll County Coach And Substitute Teacher Sentenced To 17 Years In Federal Prison For Sexual Exploitation of A Child

https://carrollcountyobserver.com/2024/04/19/former-carroll-county-coach-and-substitute-teacher-sentenced-to-17-years-in-federal-prison-for-sexual-exploitation-of-a-child/

Defendant Used Aliases on Social Media to Coerce and Persuade Victims to Send Him Sexually Explicit Images and Videos On Tuesday, April 16, 2024, U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson sentenced Evan Thomas Harris Frock age 34, of Taneytown, Maryland, to 17 years in the Bureau of Prisons for sexual e...

19/04/2024

So the added FY25 Budget Work Session today is currently scheduled for 2:00pm.

Things to watch for:

1. Looks likely taxes will be raised this year. The most likely Tax Increase will be the Recordation Tax. There is also a chance for additional tax increase for Property Tax or Income Tax (Property tax is currently the more likely one based on the conversations yesterday...but is not a done deal).
2. The Supermajority issue (4 to 1 vote required to increase taxes) is still a bit in limbo. Depending on the discussions today that could be changed - although no Commissioners seemed to want to change it - there may not be 4 votes to increase Recordation Taxes and (Property or Income) Taxes.

There were two proposals yesterday:

Recordation Tax Increase from $5.00 to $6.50 and Property Tax Increase by 2 cents

Recordation Tax Increase from $5.00 to $7.00 and one time funding to cover the budget gap (I believe I heard that correctly)

The Commissioners had the night to think things over and today is expected to be the final Work Session before the Proposed Budget is released next week.

Watch the meeting today or tune back in here for an update.

18/04/2024

UPDATE - No final decision was made today. A few proposals are out there and they will continue the conversation at some point tomorrow. Stay Tuned!!!

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Tax increases in Carroll County likely to be a hot topic during the FY25 budget work session meeting on April 18th

Things to watch for during the afternoon meeting today at 1:00pm:

1. Will a motion be offered to raise taxes?
2. If a motion is offered – what taxes will be increased: Income Tax, Property Tax, or Recordation Tax? Will it be just one tax increase or multiple increases this year?
3. Will a motion to raise taxes get the currently required 4 votes in order to pass?
4. If the motion does not get the necessary 4 votes – will 3 of the Commissioners change the rules to only require 3 votes in order to raise taxes?

Read the article for more information.

The Carroll County Commissioners are nearing the end of their Budget Work Session meetings for the 2025 fiscal year budget prior to releasing their proposed budget publicly on April 23rd. The final Budget Work Session before the release of the proposed budget is scheduled for Thursday April 18th at....

17/04/2024

Recent Fires In Carroll County between April 14th and April 16th

https://carrollcountyobserver.com/2024/04/17/recent-fires-in-carroll-county-between-april-14th-and-april-16th/

The Maryland State Fire Marshal has released information on three recent fires in Carroll County. Here are the details: Date: 4/14/2024 Time: 12:56 PM Location / Address: 1601 Heather Heights, Eldersburg, Carroll County Type of Incident: Dwelling & Vehicle Fire Description of Structure / Property: 2...

16/04/2024

We are coming to the end of the FY25 Budget Work Sessions (1 or 2 left on the schedule). Today the meeting begins at 9:00am. Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3ziHmuteU

Tax increases on Carroll County citizens looks likely this year so I HIGHLY recommend watching (when you have time).

16/04/2024

STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION TO HOST PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE ON APRIL 17TH AS PART OF MD 97 (LITTLESTOWN PIKE) STUDY IN CARROLL COUNTY

https://carrollcountyobserver.com/2024/04/16/state-highway-administration-to-host-public-open-house-on-april-17th-as-part-of-md-97-littlestown-pike-study-in-carroll-county/

Study Team to Share Results of October 2023 Virtual Public Meeting and Survey; Public Invited to View Project Details, Concept Maps  The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration will host a public open house on Wednesday, April 17, to share information, gather input and a...

12/04/2024

While some elected officials may HATE that information is being shared with our community....I have no plans to stop trying to inform myself and my neighbors here in Carroll County about a number of items and issues of interest.

The push back against sharing information has gotten old and it is time for it to end. For someone that says he dislikes social media and is not on it often he has a lot to say about it in open meetings to the public.

I invite Ed Rothstein Carroll County Commissioner - District 5 or any other Commissioner to reach out any time to talk about what is being shared on this or any social media platform operated by The Observer.

Joe Vigliotti, Carroll County Commissioner, District 1
Kenny Kiler for Carroll County Commissioner -District 2
Tom Gordon Carroll County Commissioner - District 3
Michael R. Guerin, Carroll County Commissioner-District 4, Maryland, USA

11/04/2024

Baltimore County FY25 proposed budget has no new tax increases. Just continuing to share what is happening around us here in Carroll County.

11/04/2024

A look at the average price of gas in Maryland and Carroll County on April 11th.

Yesterday Carroll County was just above $3.61 and Maryland was just above $3.64.

https://gasprices.aaa.com/?state=MD

10/04/2024

Just putting this out there…

10/04/2024

Carroll County Commissioner Kenny Kiler for Carroll County Commissioner -District 2 talks about taxes on April 9th during a Budget Work Session

You can watch the full Budget work session meeting (more than 4 hours of recorded time) from April 9th here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W06jDCrcf4Q

09/04/2024

Taneytown Police Department report Runaway Missing Juvenile last seen in Westminster on April 7th

https://carrollcountyobserver.com/2024/04/09/taneytown-police-department-report-runaway-missing-juvenile-last-seen-in-westminster-on-april-7th/

‼ RUNAWAY MISSING JUVENILE ‼ Name: LADAINIAN JOSEPH DAYHOFF (Aka “LJ” ) Age: 16 years old Last seen on April 7th 2024 at 9:30pm in Westminster, Maryland. Last seen wearing a beanie, dark puffy coat, black Nike slides. He’s believed to be in the Carroll County Area. Anyone with information ...

08/04/2024

Post from former Governor Larry Hogan on X. Just thought it was worth sharing here as the local budgets in Carroll County are being discussed.

https://x.com/govlarryhogan/status/1777361286839304379?s=12

07/04/2024

Taneytown Police Department is asking for the public’s help to identify suspects involved in a bicycle theft that occurred on April 5th

https://carrollcountyobserver.com/2024/04/07/taneytown-police-department-is-asking-for-the-publics-help-to-identify-suspects-involved-in-a-bicycle-theft-that-occurred-on-april-5th/

❗️ATTEMPT TO IDENTIFY❗️ At approximately 1445 hours on 04/05/2024, three white males were observed on video surveillance footage stealing a blue bicycle from the rear of the Cinco De Mayo Restaurant. The subjects are described as highschool aged males wearing a red, a black and a grey hoodie...

07/04/2024

Heart Failure Patients in Carroll County to Receive Care Closer to Home with the Opening of New Clinic at Carroll Hospital

https://carrollcountyobserver.com/2024/04/07/heart-failure-patients-in-carroll-county-to-receive-care-closer-to-home-with-the-opening-of-new-clinic-at-carroll-hospital/

Carroll County residents living with heart failure will no longer have to travel to Baltimore or other places outside the county for specialized heart failure care. They will now have access to the expert teams from the LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute with this week’s opening of a heart...

06/04/2024

MDOT SHA Route 91 Bridge Replacement Project Closure in Finksburg has been rescheduled to begin April 22nd

https://carrollcountyobserver.com/2024/04/06/mdot-sha-route-91-bridge-replacement-project-closure-in-finksburg-has-been-rescheduled-to-begin-april-22nd/

Announced on April 5th: The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) will close a portion of Maryland Route 91 in Finksburg to complete its bridge replacement project. Detours will affect Carroll County roads, with signage on site. UPDATE: Due to the recent rain,...

05/04/2024

Carroll County Commissioners are holding public meetings on the FY25 budget. The Commissioners are making decisions (via motions and votes) during these meetings. I have requested information on those votes.

Would you be interested in seeing the decisions (motions and voting record) published by Carroll County Government?

Many know that nothing is finalized until the budget is approved and decisions can be changed...but...would you like to see what direction the budget is heading while the process is going on (without having to watch 3 to 6 hours of videos at a time)?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

You can watch the past and future budget meetings here: https://www.youtube.com//streams

Carroll County Government Maryland
Joe Vigliotti, Carroll County Commissioner, District 1
Kenny Kiler for Carroll County Commissioner -District 2
Tom Gordon Carroll County Commissioner - District 3
Michael R. Guerin, Carroll County Commissioner-District 4, Maryland, USA
Ed Rothstein Carroll County Commissioner - District 5

05/04/2024

Westminster Police Department Patrol Officers arrested Donald Ealy for Theft from Auto and Motor Vehicle Tampering

https://carrollcountyobserver.com/2024/04/05/westminster-police-department-patrol-officers-arrested-donald-ealy-for-theft-from-auto-and-motor-vehicle-tampering/

On April 4, 2024, Westminster Police Department Patrol Officers arrested Donald A. Ealy (43 YOA) based on an arrest warrant they obtained on April 3, 2024. Between March 30, 2024 and April 3, 2024, the Westminster Police Department (WPD) took thirteen (13) reports regarding theft from motor vehicle....

04/04/2024

Recent News From Around Carroll County Maryland – April 4, 2024

https://carrollcountyobserver.com/2024/04/04/recent-news-from-around-carroll-county-maryland-april-4-2024/

It has been a while since The Observer has posted a “Recent News” article of stories from around the county. Here is a look at some of the top recent news from a variety of sources: 21 Carroll County fire, EMS employees have either quit or been fired in the last 10 months 21 Carroll […]

03/04/2024

Pay close attention to the ongoing FY25 Carroll County Government budget meetings. There appears to be a push to increases taxes this year to cover the shortfalls in revenue. Not every jurisdiction is taking this approach. What are your thoughts?

Watch past and upcoming budget discussions here: https://www.youtube.com//streams

03/04/2024

Worth a read for residents (and maybe a few elected officials):

Harford County Executive Cassilly Urges Fiscal Discipline, Will Not Raise Taxes to Balance FY25 Budget Amid Statewide Economic Downturn

https://www.harfordcountymd.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2331

01/04/2024

Mercedes Moebuis, president of the Republican Club of Carroll County, is now one of nine members of Carroll County’s Republican Central Committee, the result of a decision made by Committee chair Joe Leeman on Monday. Leeman’s decision comes after multiple rounds of voting last Tuesday by the en...

28/03/2024

ICE Detainer On Westminster Man Arrested With Co***ne, Scales After Search Warrant Executed https://www.mdmuckraker.com/p/ice-detains-westminster-man-arrested

28/03/2024

The police took an armed barricaded suspect into custody in Taneytown on March 27th

https://carrollcountyobserver.com/2024/03/28/the-police-took-an-armed-barricaded-suspect-into-custody-in-taneytown-on-march-27th/

MEDIA RELEASE from Taneytown Police Department on March 27th: On 03/26/24 at approximately 2224hrs Maryland State Police dispatched Taneytown Police Units to Starboard Drive for a habitual noise complaint. After making contact with the homeowner, Taneytown Police Officers were able to see the homeow...